Six Common Misconceptions About Residential Carpeting

Every week I hear numerous comments from homeowners that have brought me to the realization that there are numerous misconceptions when it comes to carpeting in the home as a flooring option. In this article I want to separate fact from fiction and set the record straight.

Carpet has been the most popular floor covering in America for decades for several very good reasons – carpet feels soft, reduces noise, helps insulate and diminishes slip & fall incidents.

But a few common misconceptions influence decisions regarding carpeting. If you’re considering replacing the flooring in any room or having your existing carpets professionally cleaned and restored, consider the following myth vs. fact information.

MYTH 1
If you or someone in your household suffers from asthma or allergies, you should not have carpets in your home.

FACT:
In numerous and extensive testing since 2002, EPA scientists have concluded that properly maintained carpeting in the home actually reduces airborne allergens. The fact is that that wall to wall carpeting is very efficient at keeping allergen and other small particles such as pollen out of the air. Data from a Swedish government study indicates that when carpet is used less (as opposed to other hard flooring options), the number of people reporting allergy problems increased.

Here’s how carpet helps people with allergies. Carpeting is actually a very good air filter. As allergens are trapped and held in the carpet, they’re not circulating throughout the home in the indoor air stream. The result is improved indoor air quality (IAQ). To maintain IAQ, manufactures of carpeting recommend using a quality HEPA-filter vacuum cleaner on a regular basis to fully remove dust and allergens from the carpet.

MYTH 2
Carpeting is difficult to maintain – it gets dirty, shows spots or stains and wears out too easily.

FACT: A few simple steps and preventive measures can extend the life of your carpeting and keep it looking like new for many years. Frequent vacuuming will remove soil particles before they get to the base of the carpet, where they are far more difficult to remove. In addition, carpet in a typical household should be cleaned every 6 to 12 months by a certified professional. Dry extraction cleaning provides the most effective cleaning and will extend the life of your carpets.

MYTH 3
Carpet is an outdated and boring option for modern flooring.

FACT:
Carpets come in exciting new styles and patterns ranging from traditional hounds tooth to exotic zebra, and in stylish colors that can enhance any decor. Many home builders, remodeling companies and consumers now use a combination of carpeting, hardwood and tile in their homes.

FACT:
Carpet is one of the lowest emitters of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) among household textiles, upholstery, furnishings and building materials. When shopping for carpet look for quality carpets manufactured in the U.S. that meet the industry’s highest VOC standard – the Carpet & Rug Institute’s Green Label Plus program.

MYTH 5
Carpet is potentially harmful to the environment

FACT:
Major carpet and flooring manufacturers now provide many eco-friendly options that will satisfy even the most environmentally-conscious consumers. Shaw carpets made of Anso or EverTouch nylon can be recycled at Shaw’s Evergreen Nylon Recycling Facility, where they are used to produce new carpet fiber. This process helps turn used carpet and left over remnants into a recyclable, renewable product and minimizes carpet waste dumped into landfills. Since 2006 Shaw has collected and recyeled 178 million pounds of post-consumer carpet.

MYTH 6
The best way to clean carpets is steam, or hot water extraction.

FACT:
In blind tests conducted annually since 2007, dry extraction carpet cleaning has consistently out performed every other method of carpet cleaning – including steam/hot water extraction. The results of these annual blind tests are determined by a panel of unbiased certified carpet inspectors. To support these conclusions, dry extraction carpet cleaning utilizing “Green Certified” cleaning products is the only carpet cleaning system given the “Excellent” rating by America’s top consumer magazine.

What’s most important when it comes to carpet cleaning is giving consumers what they want while eliminating what they don’t want. What they want is really clean carpets. What they don’t want is wet carpets and all the associated problems caused by wet carpet cleaning, i.e. steam cleaning aka hot water extraction. One thing I know for certain is that dry extraction carpet cleaning gets carpets thoroughly clean and totally eliminates the wet carpet issue.

So now that you’re armed with some facts about carpeting, you’ll be in a better position to make appropriate choices when choosing flooring options and professional carpet cleaning.